Health and Safety

What is Fire ?

Fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel. The products from the chemical reaction are completely different from the starting material. The fuel must be heated to its ignition temperature for combustion to occur. The reaction will keep going as long as there is enough heat, fuel and oxygen. This is known as the fire triangle.

4 steps for using modern portable fire extinguishers.

Pull (Pin) : Pull pin at the top of the extinguisher, breaking the seal. When in place, the pin keeps the handle from being pressed and accidentally operating the extinguisher. Immediately test the extinguisher. (Aiming away from the operator) This is to ensure the extinguisher works and also shows the operator how far the stream travels
Aim: Approach the fire standing at a safe distance. Aim the nozzle or outlet towards the base of the fire.
Squeeze: Squeeze the handles together to discharge the extinguishing agent inside. To stop discharge, release the handles.
Sweep: Sweep the nozzle from side to side as you approach the fire, directing the extinguishing agent at the base of the flames. After an A Class fire is extinguished, probe for smouldering hot spots that could reignite the fuel.

What is fire triangle ?

Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the "fire triangle." Add in the fourth element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron." The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.

The 5 Different Classes of Fires

Class A: :Class A fires are the most common of the 5 different classes of fires. They occur when common combustible materials like wood, paper, fabric, trash, and light plastics catch fire. These accidental fires are ubiquitous across a variety of industries, so it’s recommended to have adequate protection against “ordinary” fires in addition to other condition-specific fires. Despite being “ordinary”, don’t rule this class of fire as low-risk. If there’s an abundance of fuel present, these fires can intensify quickly. It’s best to put out a Class A fire quickly before it spreads using water or monoammonium phosphate.
Class B:: Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, especially fuels like petroleum or petroleum-based products such as gasoline, paint, and kerosene. Other gases that are highly flammable are propane and butane, which are common causes of Class B fires. The best way to deal with these types of fires is by smothering them or removing oxygen using foam or CO2 fire suppression equipment. Be aware that Class B fires do not include grease fires or cooking fires, which belong to their own class, Class K.
Class C:: Electrical fires fall under Class C and are common in facilities that make heavy use of electrical equipment, but they can occur in a wide range of industries. For example, data centers might be an obvious risk area for Class C fires. They must have safeguards in place to deal with electrical fires.Construction sites are another common Class C fire risk: electrical power tools or appliances used for cooking can cause sparks to ignite combustible materials and intensify rapidly. Old buildings with bad wiring or space heaters present more concerns. Electrical fires require non-conductive materials to extinguish the flame, so water alone is not a good solution. Facilities with sensitive equipment may prefer clean agent suppression because it won’t leave residue or damage electrical equipment.
Class D:: Class D fires are not as common as the other classes, but they do require special attention because they can be especially difficult to extinguish. Metallic fires involve flammable materials like titanium, aluminum, magnesium, and potassium — all commonly occurring in laboratories. Class D fires cannot be addressed with water, as this can exacerbate the fire and be potentially dangerous. Dry powder agents are the best solution for smothering the flames and limiting damage to property or people.
Class K::Class K fires involve flammable liquids, similar to Class B fires, but are specifically related to food service and the restaurant industry. These common fires start from the combustion of liquid cooking materials including grease, oils, and vegetable and animal fats. Because they can spread quickly and be difficult to manage, Class K fires are some of the most dangerous. Water can make the situation worse, but smothering the flames or using a wet agent fire extinguisher is effective. Now that we understand how each fire starts, we can prepare for how to fight them — or better yet, prevent them from happening in the first place

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What is Fire ?

4 steps for using modern portable fire extinguishers.

What is fire triangle ?

The 5 Different Classes of Fires

Presentation on " Training session on Fire Fighting & Emergency Preparedness"

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